The Detroit Red Wings will be without their top defenseman and one of their leaders in their series-deciding Game 7 at Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

The NHL suspended Niklas Kronwall for one game on Tuesday following his thunderous hit on the Lightning's Nikita Kucherov in the second period of Game 6 on Monday, according to multiple media reports. Here's video of the hit:

Kronwall was not penalized for the hit. Kucherov left early for the locker room after the hit and returned to play in the third period.

Kronwall and Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg both called the hit clean after the game.

It is the first suspension in Kronwall's 11-year career.

Without him, Detroit will likely play either rookie Alexey Marchenko or Jakub Kindl on defense in his place.

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